City offices head on down the road

First came Honolulu Hale — the original City Hall — then Kapolei Hale, the city’s government hub in the Second City out west.

Now comes Kapalama Hale, to be anchored by the city and driver licensing operations currently at City Square on Dillingham Boulevard.

Kapalama Hale will be at the old Sprint building several blocks east of City Square, and will become home also to numerous other city agencies, such as the Department of Community Services and the Ethics Commission.

Parking had become an issue at City Square, and the city says agency consolidation at Kapala-ma Hale and possible purchase of that building after an initial two years of leasing would save money in the long run. Let’s hope so.

And, let’s hope the city is already working to mitigate the expected traffic backup around Kapalama Hale — Costco, after all, will be its neighbor.

Good ideas never go out of style

Ride-sharing, van pools, telecommuting and staggered work hours to mitigate traffic are not new ideas.

But as Oahu’s jams get worse and worse, any efforts to help these strategies gain steam are welcome.

A resolution before the City Council urges government and private employers to subsidize methods that could reduce traffic, and, in the process, improve employee productivity and satisfaction.

Congestion is worse now in Central and West Oahu, thanks to rail-transit construction and other building projects.

Knowing that the work won’t last forever is little solace to those stuck on the road.